Friday, 28 August 2015

I must admit that I've had this one sitting around for a while but have had other distractions to contend with. The rules for the figures can be found on the Interdimensional Bestiary KS updates but I will olate them here in the next update for your convenience.

Scenario

Aequatherium Hunt

One of the most prized beasts yet discovered in the wasteland, the Aequatherium Magnus is a tentacled hulk – a nightmare made manifest. The price offered for the recovery of a live specimen is so great that it outweighs the need for caution, and wasteland expeditions will often abandon their objectives for the chance to capture this deadly beast and its offspring.

The Battlefield

If you’re playing a game of 100 points a side or less, then the maximum sized playing surface you will need is 4’ x 4’ (48” square). For larger battles, of around 200-500 points, a table 6’ x 4’ (72” by 48”) will afford more room for manoeuvre.

Set up your terrain on the battlefield in a mutually agreeable fashion. In the centre of the board, set up the monster’s lair – a circle of rocky outcrops, ruined building, swampy forest or other suitably fecund scenery. This should cover an area of approximately 12” diameter, and be considered dense terrain. If you are able to place at least one aquatic scenery feature (river, pond, swamp, etc) near to this lair (within 6”), it will make for an even more challenging scenario.

Deployment

The forces are set up opposite each other, within 12” of a corner of the board (see diagram). The players choose their deployment zones – if one player set up the scenery, the other player gets to choose. If not, both players should roll a D10, and the highest scorer gets to choose his corner. The opponent must take the corner opposite.

Players then ‘dice off’ again to see who starts deploying first – the highest scorer chooses to start deploying first or second. Once this is decided, the player who deploys first places a single Element in his deployment zone. The opponent then does the same – deployment alternates in this way until all forces are set up on the battlefield.

The player who finished deploying first then places the monster models within 6” of the centre point of the board, in the monster lair. These consist of one Aequatherium Magnus, one Aequatherium Whelp swarm (comprising 5 models for every full 100 points of the game being played, to a maximum of 20). For example, if the players agreed on a points limit of 300 points for the game, the Aequatherium Whelps swarm would number 15 models.

Finally, the player who placed the monsters should roll a D5. Starting with the same player, take it in turns to place that many Egg Clusters around the board, no closer than 12” to another model, friend or foe.

Game Length

The game lasts for 10 turns, or until the Aequatherium Magnus is killed.

Special Rules

Controlling the Monsters: While it is possible to play this scenario with a third player controlling the monsters, the rules assume that the monsters will have to be controlled impartially by the two regular players. The player who finishes activating his Elements first in each round moves the monsters that turn. The monsters’ turn always occurs after both players have finished their turns, but before the next Round begins. All monster Elements are activated in the monsters’ turn – there is no alternating.

Monsters are activated using the Act on Instinct special rule. Players should agree the fairest way to move each monster element, so that it attacks the closest target, or moves into cover, for example, conferring an advantage to no one player if possible. When seeking cover, the monster will attempt to shelter from the largest number of enemies possible, regardless of whose side those enemy models are on.

Egg Clusters: Egg Clusters are in effect scenery pieces, which can be attacked as though they were large models. They may not perform any actions except Engage. When they are able to Engage a foe, the Egg Cluster model is removed, and is replaced with a swarm of 5 Aequatherium Whelps, which then completes the Engage action and thereafter behaves as a normal Element.

Victory Conditions

At the end of Turn 10, or when the Aequatherium Magnus is destroyed, the game ends. Each player adds up the casualties he has inflicted on his opponent’s force, receiving a number of victory points (or VPs) as follows:

Egg Cluster destroyed1 VP

Aequatherium Whelp swarm reduced to 50% strength or less*1 VP

Aequatherium Whelp swarm destroyed/Routed*1 VP

Enemy Element destroyed/Routed1 VP

Enemy Leader destroyed/Routed2 VP

Aequatherium Magnus destroyed5 VP

* Note that the points for destroying an element are not cumulative with the points for reducing it to below half strength – the half strength point only applies to those enemy Elements left on the battlefield at the end of the game.

Monday, 20 July 2015

I am pleased to announce the long awaited follow up to the first Meridian Miniatures Kickstarter "Steampunk Army". This campaign has bee set up to fund the production of a range of 28mm "Steampunk Militia" to complement the military figures with their civilian counterparts in the "Steam & Aether" table top setting.

As you can see below the, initial miniatures are already sculpted with the pre production painted masters shown. In each of my previous campaigns I have tried to avoid leaving to much ambiguity between the miniatures promised and the actual product you will recieve, where possible I try to avoid relying on renders and "concept art". Occasionally I will illustrate an idea using either but feel I have built up the reputation for delivering on promises by this stage that you won't be dissapointed.

The above figures show painted preproduction masters on resin bases, your reward will consist of metal castings supplied with round plastic bases, the option to upgrade to resin bases is given on the campaign page.

In the Steam & Aether setting I will be introducing rules for "benefactors", these miniatures represent rich patrons that fund expeditions into the apocalyptic ruins. This aristocrat figure is the first of them, en extremely highly detailed figure that will be cast in high quality resin providing a centerpiece to your force or a great project for the modelers and painters out there. This figure is a KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE figure. I will. at a later date remodel it as a simpler one piece casting for those that missed out but this figure will never be cast again after the rewards are sent out.

Thank you to any and all that come onboard to back this project, I appreciate all support offered. Meridian Miniatures is a "one man band", I do 90% of the sculpting, painting and promo by myself with much needed support form a small number of others. If you like what I do then please take 5 mins to share this campaign with your friends, be it on social media, blogs or forums and you will have my sincere gratitude.

Tuesday, 7 July 2015

Hi all, just a quick post to say sorry for the gap in comms. I've had a very busy year, two house moves, one house renovation, a son approaching 2yrs old and all sorts of other distractions! Combined with a relentless freelance sculpting schedule I've had precious little time for blogging.

I had switched over mainly to the easy updating of Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meridian-Miniatures/278329682295664
Those following me on there will have seen plenty is still going on in the world of Steam & Aether but I now feel it's time get stuck into the blog again.

I'll be updating here at least once a week from now on with WIP photos, news, rules, background information and all sorts of other cool stuff.